LASIK: Procedure and post-operative care

LASIK is one of the best options to get rid of short-sightedness (myopia) and correct other refractive errors as well. While it's not always perfect it will definitely reduce a person's dependence on glasses. With fourth-generation laser machines the chances of errors are also very low.

Who can get it done?

Ophthalmologists take a preliminary test to determine whether or not a patient is eligible for LASIK. The procedure is not recommended for people whose powers are higher than -10 and those whose cornea thickness is lesser than 500 microns (1 micron is one-millionth of a metre).

LASIK procedure

The procedure usually lasts for only 5-10 minutes. The first step involves applying topical anaesthesia to the eye (topical anaesthesia means anaesthesia which isn't injected and is applied as a cream or lotion). After that a machine called microkeratome is used to slice open the corneal flap. Then a highly accurate, computer-controlled laser is used to vaporise the sides of the cornea so it provides more accurate vision and then corneal flap is put back. This entire operation takes only 5-7 minutes. All the procedure does is change the microscopic curvature of cornea which will allow your eye to focus more.

Post-Operative Care

You may like to read

After the surgery, it's very, very important to remain vigilant and take proper care. The outcome of the surgery depends greatly on the post-operative care because your cornea needs to heal and will reattach itself and it is vital that you do not touch or rub your eye.

Here are some other dos and don'ts:

• Wear protective eye shields after the operation and while sleeping so you don't accidentally rub your eye
• Put your eye drops as per schedule
• Rest your eyes for 1-2 days and avoid using the computer or watching TV or reading
• Wear sunglasses when outside
• Use zero power anti-glare glasses while using computers. This will help prevent any additional strain.

Usually, it takes a week for your vision to return to normal but you should avoid straining your eyes especially activities like swimming or gymming which can put your eyes under added strain. One also sleep wearing eye shield for a while because you might accidentally end up rubbing your eye. Some minor vision issues like ghosting, hallowing (around lights) might occur but they usually go away in a month, so to be extra cautious one should avoid driving in the night for a while. The LASIK procedure really is one of the most amazing technological advances and it has already improved the lives of thousands the world over.

Also read: Things to keep in mind before going for the procedure

Dr Prakash Nayak is the Director of the Right Sight Eye Care and has performed over thousands of LASIK and Cataract surgeries.